3 Ways to Prevent Bleeding After Sex

1. Determine if a Medical Condition is the Cause of Your Bleeding

There are numerous reasons you could be experiencing bleeding after sexual intercourse (also known as post-coital bleeding), and determining the cause is key in preventing it from happening again. If the problem is medical, you may need to have treatment before you can have sex without bleeding. The main medical causes for bleeding after sex are infections, cervical conditions like polyps or dysplasia and uterine conditions like endometritis, polyps and fibroids. It's important to get post-coital bleeding checked out by a doctor, as some of these conditions can have potentially serious affects of fertility. Minor surgery may be required to treat some of these conditions. Infections such as the common yeast infection can be cleared up with simple over-the-counter creams and medications, however.

2. Enhance Lubrication Naturally or Artificially

Lack of proper lubrication prior to intercourse is often the cause of bleeding after sex. When the vagina is not sufficiently lubricated, tiny cuts can be caused by the friction of intercourse. Poor lubrication affects women of all ages, but it can be particularly problematic in post-menopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy may help restore normal vaginal moisture after menopause. Over-the-counter, water-based lubricants are also recommended for women of all ages. These lubricants provide artificial moisture for the vagina and reduce friction caused by penetration.

Alternatively, increasing the length and quality of foreplay before sexual intercourse can help to stimulate natural vaginal lubrication. Kissing, petting and oral and manual stimulation, among other things, can heighten your sexual arousal and increase natural lubrication. You may still need additional artificial lubrication as intercourse proceeds, however. So keep some handy just in case.

3. Prevent STDs by Practicing Safe Sex

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a common cause of bleeding after sex. Gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomonaisis are the most common culprits. They can all be successfully treated using antibiotics. During treatment, it's important to avoid sexual intercourse. Once the infection has cleared, practicing safe sex is essential to preventing a reinfection. Using condoms 100 percent of the time is the best way to prevent contracting an STD. Short of that, you should confine sexual relations to monogamous relationships.